Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – Controversial Democratic Party politician Ruhut Sitompul finally gave up his seat as chairman of the House of Representatives' Commission III overseeing legal affairs after meeting strong opposition from fellow lawmakers.

Ruhut announced his withdrawal on Monday at a Commission III meeting, during which he was due to be inaugurated into his new position, after hours of debate involving commission members who deemed "Ruhut was not the right person to lead the prestigious commission".

Expecting that Ruhut would not win the battle, the Democratic Party faction in the House has appointed Pieter C. Zulkifli Simabuea House Commission II overseeing regional autonomy to assume Ruhut's position. Ruhut's detractors appeared to be satisfied with the appointment of Pieter.

"The leadership of the Democratic Party has decided to appoint Pak Pieter to take over the commission leadership. The House leadership will receive an official letter today [Monday] in the hope that his [Pieter's] appointment can be made official as soon as possible," Edi said.

Staying true to his reputation as a controversial lawmaker, however, Ruhut introduced drama to the House session on Monday, by allowing his wife, Diana Leovita, whom he married in 2011, to make an appearance.

The move was to silence his critics, who questioned his lack of moral judgement for taking a second wife before divorcing his first wife, Anna Rudhiantiana Legawati, a Golkar Party politician, in 2011. Ruhut married Diana while he was still legally married to Anna, whom he had married in 1998.

"This is my first and only wife," Ruhut told the lawmakers, pointing to Diana who sat beside him in between other Commission III members. "It really hurts her feeling when she is addressed as my second wife."

Ruhut was responding to criticism from lawmakers Desmond Junaidi Mahesa from the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) and Ahmad Yani from the United Development Party (PPP), who raised the subject of Ruhut's marital status in a bid to prevent him from taking chairmanship of the commission.

Ruhut also said it was his family who convinced him not to take up his new position. "My family told me that I didn't need to be the commission chairman because I may be busier with the new job. I hereby announce my intention not to assume the chairmanship as that is the best thing to do," Ruhut said.

Previously, Ruhut had warned he would expose the "dark secrets" of his colleagues who opposed his inauguration. Ruhut has repeatedly threatened to reveal allegations of corruption implicating several of his Commission III colleagues. He also claimed that he had the backing of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to assume his new position as Commission III chairman.

House Deputy Speaker Priyo Budi Santoso applauded Ruhut's move, saying that it had brought an amiable solution to the dispute. "This is a win-win solution because it would have been so unfortunate if a vote had been necessitated. The House has never conducted a voting session to select a chairman of any commission," Priyo said.

The House's leadership is expected to inaugurate Pieter as the new Commission III chairman next week.